BEREA, Ohio (CNN) – For almost a week, John McCain and his campaign have been mocking Barack Obama’s comments to a voter last week in Missouri when he told her to one way to conserve energy is “making sure your tires are properly inflated.”

On Monday a top McCain advisor passed around tire gauges labeled “Obama’s Energy Plan” to reporters on the Arizona senator’s campaign plane - and the Republican National Committee says more are waiting for the Obama traveling press corps at Tuesday night’s hotel.

Obama shot back at a town hall in Ohio Tuesday afternoon, accusing them of lying about his energy plan and ignoring what experts say would reduce gas consumption between 3 and 4 percent.

“It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant,” Obama told a packed gym. “They think it’s funny that they're making fun of something that is actually true. They need to do their homework.”

“Instead of running ads about Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, they should go talk to some energy experts and actually make a difference,” Obama added.

Both the RNC and McCain’s campaign responded by urging Obama to call for Congress to return from summer recess for a special session to pass an energy package.

“Rather than demanding Americans inflate their tires, Obama should be demanding Congress return to DC to vote on a real energy plan. Obama is wrong: Inflated tires are no substitute for oil drilling and a comprehensive energy plan,” said RNC spokesman Alex Conant.

The race took a sharp turn for the negative last week, as McCain released the ‘Celeb’ ad aimed at Obama, who said the presumptive Republican nominee would try to make him look scary by saying the Illinois senator doesn’t “look like all the presidents on the dollar bills.”

“Our politics has gotten so nasty,” said Obama in Berea. “But not just nasty, also cynical and manipulative, right? Where we say things that we don’t mean.”

“I’m happy to have a battle of words because I’ve got facts on my side. I’ve got truth on my side. I fear no man when I’ve got truth on my side,” he added.

soundoff(377 Responses)

Down with McWar

Does John E. have a mentor as using same strategy or is there a club for cancer spouses that we don't know about that Mr 911,Newt and John all belong to .
The ones they cheat with seem to really know how to "work it" .

August 5, 2008 07:20 pm at 7:20 pm |

Adam - TX

It's called a sense of humor. Since when did Obama consider himself above everyone else? Please, take a joke and move on. I

August 5, 2008 07:20 pm at 7:20 pm |

Olegringo, NM

Hey, it's his gag.

August 5, 2008 07:20 pm at 7:20 pm |

jangula

truly it does not surprise any for what Mc saying because old people like joking or smoking so they can jo9ke as much they whanty but they do ndot bring any thing to this country unless leading downword as Bush playing now over 300,000,000 people.

August 5, 2008 07:21 pm at 7:21 pm |

Black 35 year old male for McCain

Obama said himself that he was getting more exposure than Paris Hilton. And what about the faux presidential seal that he has now abandoned. Frightful I tell ya, frightful.

McCain 08 !!!!!!!!

August 5, 2008 07:21 pm at 7:21 pm |

doug

McCain is groping for anything to use and even though his ads are negative and downright ignorant, people in this country listen...repetition becomes truth no matter how foolish (remember swift boat vets). Senator Obama needs to fight back even if he has to also be dirty. Go future President Obama!!

August 5, 2008 07:21 pm at 7:21 pm |

bitterclinger

What happened to freedom of expression in America? Let the sheep that follow the candidates around have their fun. Come on Barry and get a sense of humor! It will be hard to unite us all if your going to insult half the country. Obama and McCain should try to stay on topic for a CHANGE. Try talking about the economy, paying down the national debt, education, jobs, taxes, social security, healthcare, etc, and other presssing issues the American people have that the federal gov. should be addressing. The mechanics of my car aren't a national issue and why bother to worry about tire pressure if we can't afford gas to drive? Truth is neither candidate has a energy plan. The best example of ignorance are the two clowns running for president. We need leadership not two grown men going back and forth like kids on the playground.

August 5, 2008 07:21 pm at 7:21 pm |

Gary Chandler in Canada

Now the McCain camp will accuse Obama of playing the ignoramus card. LOL
Truth is, proper tire pressure and engine tuning would save more oil than all the offshore resources you can find.
First McCain says America CAN do anything; then he says you CAN"T do anything without nuclear and offshore?
Look at Brazil! America is a top ten sugar cane grower. If the Asian countries copy the Brazilian model, the Arabs will be begging America to buy its oil.
The methane energy in sewage and organic wastes are being flushed away and thrown away.

August 5, 2008 07:21 pm at 7:21 pm |

Retired Veteran from New York City, NY

Go Obama! It's about time that you put those ignorant comments to rest and place them where they belongned to. John McCain and the Bush supporters don't even have a clue about what's at stakes in this election, they take pride in destroying this great Nation about everything America stands for.

Everywhere that Bush went, national or abroad, it makes you ashame to have this guy represents such a used to be America. Voting McCain is going to be more of the same or even worst. Obama needs to stand up and tell it like it is. America cannot afford another 3rd term of these people.

The Sean Hannity, the Rush Limbaugh, the so-called the Chistian base conservatives, they are nothing but the ennemies of America, spreading their hates all over the airwave day in day out. They will prefer to see America sinks like the Titanic and can careless about the future of this great Nation as long they have idiots and ignorants to listen to them and consistantly looking for ways to derail America.

I believe in good conscience, the people of America will be wise enough to make the right choice which is vote for Obama. McCain 20th Century's ideology, it's not what America needs this time.

August 5, 2008 07:21 pm at 7:21 pm |

ej

Obama's tire inflation proposal has long been preached by environmental groups and auto manufactueres and is a fine example of part of the solution being something done by all of us for all of us, that helps both the individual and the community which seems to be lost on the Republicans who claim they want no governmental interference except when it is a governmental subsidy or no bid contract. The problem is one that has to be solved at both ends of the energy cycle.

August 5, 2008 07:21 pm at 7:21 pm |

Patti

GOBAMA! Speak the truth and hopefully the American public will be educated. I am so tired of hearing that we don't know who Obama is. He is a visionary – an extremely intelligent and thoughtful person with good judgement. What more can we ask for in a President?

August 5, 2008 07:22 pm at 7:22 pm |

Glen in Los Angeles

This is fun to read. But is something as commonplace as Republican pride in ignorance news? Isn't this the main reason Karl Rove worked so diligently to put President Bush in office?

August 5, 2008 07:22 pm at 7:22 pm |

Miranda

That video is priceless.

Obama 2008

August 5, 2008 07:22 pm at 7:22 pm |

KH

Independent-Latina-for-OBAMA

Good point, it is really scary to know that people out there are getting their news from the tabloids.

August 5, 2008 07:22 pm at 7:22 pm |

TX-Democrat

The problem for Obama is that his supporters are very mean spirited and want to "cleanse" the party of long time Clinton-base democrats and at the same time have a landslide victory. Obama is also very glib and corrupt. When asked why he voted for the Bush-Cheney energy bill in 2005, he states that it is because of the "incentives to alternative energy". The truth is that Exelon Corp of Illinois (a nuclear power energy company) influenced his vote with more that $269,000 in campaign contributions. The truth will come out in the months ahead.

August 5, 2008 07:22 pm at 7:22 pm |

Repairations

White people like to be ignorant. Pretends they don't see how filthy racist this country built on slavery be.

Black people be taking charge.

This country has lots of African Americans and we can barack the vote.

Now and 4ever

August 5, 2008 07:22 pm at 7:22 pm |

Ignorent indeed

Thanks Obama. Now everybody knows to check their tires. What WOULD we do without you...

I saw the cover of the tabloids too, but even though we know it's a lie, the funny thing is, supposed instead the mag talked about a candidate who left his first wife and kids (who he was actually cheating on) after she got disfigured in an accident to be with the bud barbie. Well that would be McCain. All I hear is that we don't know enough about Obama, but from what I see, he is a devoted husband and father who spent his early career working for the underprivileged in Chicago. What do we know about McCain besdied the fact that he got shot down over vietnam. He was a lying cheating husband and father and last week chose to attack Obama by comparing him to Britney, Paris, Moses and Jesus, so obviously McCain can't have too much faith to be using religion to mock his opponent. Imagine McCain, who seems to have no respect for his fellow senator, mocking some of the other world leaders as president. He'll be starting new wars and losing allies when he starts mocking them for not agreeing with him.

August 5, 2008 07:23 pm at 7:23 pm |

Cathy in MD

Please, CNN. Obama did not say, “Republicans take pride in being ignorant.” He said, as quoted in your article, “These guys take pride in being ignorant,” referring, of course, to the McCain camp as “these guys.” You do us all a disservice by choosing to use the word "Republicans" in your headline as it is deliberately misleading and inflammatory.

August 5, 2008 07:23 pm at 7:23 pm |

Joe

To all conservatives out there: If the Administration, NASCAR and Crist said the same thing as Obama, please respond in a factual manner as to why he is out of step and they are not?

Please.

August 5, 2008 07:24 pm at 7:24 pm |

Tyrone

I have another awesome idea. The solution to today's healthcare problem is for everyone to go out and exercise.

August 5, 2008 07:24 pm at 7:24 pm |

Angry at Idiots

Hey, LIBERALS!

Time to grow up! I know it is trendy to bash the President but grow the #@%K up!

The US is under attack by a force that makes the Nazis look like nothing. Wake up and get to the real issue – Islamic terror.

Only the Republicans are going to fight terror. You can falsely accuse them of fearmongering or racism or whatever but in 20 years you will live in the Islamic American Nation if you don't wake up. They HATE us because we are not Muslim. Get it through your heads. It isn't because of anything other than that.

August 5, 2008 07:25 pm at 7:25 pm |

Cynthia - Arkansas

I love Obama! He is a very smart and clever man. He can get a dig in on the Bush idiots running McSame's campaign with a simple phrase. Even the talking heads are starting to question what is wrong with mcSame's people. Obama mets with the brightest and the best in all fields, McSame goes to the grocery store and scares small children. It's disgraceful to think that Americans are dumb enough to fall for any of this same old stuff being put out by McSame. I love the Obama ad about the same old politics, same old policies. I hope he keeps running that in every state until election day!